Taksvärkki campaign 2024–2025
When do you feel safe?
Every young person has the right to security. Young people all over the world experience unsafety.
Discussion on safety often emphasizes threats such as wars, violence, crime and climate crisis. Safety experienced in daily life is impacted by other factors as well, such as familiar people, health and trust in oneself and the future. The hope for life without fear connects young people around the world.
When you feel safe campaign – Together we build a safer world
Taksvärkki uses the proceeds of the Taksvärkki fundraising campaign to support the work of its partner organizations with young people in six countries. In Kenya, the Undugu organization improves the lives and safety of young people living and working on the streets.
Undugu’s work in Kenya:
- Young people establish their own associations. Membership in groups creates safety and supports substance-free life.
- In groups, young people receive peer support from each other.
- Young people have the opportunity to earn money in honest ways and rent a home. Groups for example set up kiosks or car washes, grow crops, sell jewelry they have made or plastic and metal they have collected.
- Young people improve safety in their own community and cooperate with the police and neighbors.
- In trainings and events, young people and adults learn what rights the youth have and how to defend them together.
Taksvärkki works from youth to youth
By spending one day at work and donating their pay to Taksvärkki (ODW Finland) ’s campaign, Finnish youth fund a long-term development cooperation projects. Taksvärkki’s local partner organizations are in charge of the practical implementation of the projects.
Taksvärkki promotes the conditions for young people to participate in the development of their own communities. Young people are the protagonists, not merely beneficiaries in Taksvärkki’s projects.
Thanks to the funds collected in Taksvärkki, our work can continue. We support youth inclusion and human rights in Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal and Sierra Leone.
”Something I would wish to inform the youth in Finland. The difference between us, in Kenya and them, we can say is the language, the country and the race. But when we are referred to as youth, we all fit into that category. Whatever challenges they encounter, is what we also encounter here.”
Dennis, 20, Nairobi
”I feel safe when there is no harassment, or mental or physical violence.”
Vanni, 14, Oulu
Taksvärkki Day is your chance to make a difference!
Your Taksvärkki workday can be any day during the school year. During the Taksvärkki Workday, the students in order to earn a pay. The pay is then donated to the Taksvärkki fundraising. The Taksvärkki Workday can be realized as a traditional one-day work for each student or, for example, as a joint event of the entire school.
In Finland, the Taksvärkki campaign has a strong development education component. Our volunteer Global Educators visit elementary and secondary schools in different parts of Finland and hold workshops on equality, discrimination, active youth, and children’s rights. These workshops are complemented by high-quality learning materials and study packages for teachers. The goal is to raise a sense of global responsibility in Finnish youth and to build links between youth.
Do you need help or tips organizing a Taksvärkki Day? Please contact us: ilmoittautuminen@taksvarkki.fi
The proceeds from the Taksvärkki fundraising are used to support young people making an impact. We increase the feeling of safety in the life of young people.
15 €
For 15 euros, three girls receive a packet of durable sanitary pads. In Nepalese schools young people combat discrimination against girls and organize menstrual health education where also boys participate.
75 €
For 75 euros, one young person in Guatemala can attend a year-long human rights and civic education course. Young people learn to defend their rights and demand that adults and decision-makers take action for young people.
100 €
For 100 euros, a climate initiative by a youth association in Kenya receives starting money. For example, young people cultivate tree seedlings and plant them along roadsides.
Taksvärkki fundraising day
One part of the Taksvärkki campaign is the Taksvärkki fundraising campaign. It is based on a day’s work, or ”Taksvärkki”.
Different collection methods:
- The student or pupil participates in the Taksvärkki Workday and donates their pay to Taksvärkki.
- The school organizes a Taksvärkki event, such as a concert or sale, the proceeds of which are directed to the campaign.
- Student councils can participate by donating part of the proceeds of its café or kiosk to the campaign.
Where can you find Taksvärkki jobs?
On a Taksvärkki Workday, you can work in a company or household, for example. Taksvärkki work can be done almost anywhere, for example in a shop, office, café, home, local radio station, theater or parliament as an assistant. The whole school or class can also do contract work for a municipality or company together.
The Taksvärkki Workday also makes workplaces familiar
On a Taksvärkki Workday, students can learn about working life in a field they are interested in. At the same time, they can gain useful experience and network for future summer jobs.
Taksvärkki Newsletter
Taksvärkki’s monthly newsletter gives perspectives on different cultures and the realities of developing countries. It gives useful tools and materials to be used in global education in schools and other educational institutions as well as the latest news related to the campaign.
Undugu Society of Kenya
Undugu Society is Taksvärkki’s partner organization in Kenya.
Cooperation between organizations strengthens equality, young people’s participation in decision-making and their livelihood opportunities.
Read more about Taksvärkki’s development cooperation projects.
You can find more information on Undugu Society’s work on Undugu’s homepage.
Our achievements in 2023
20 580
children and youth in Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Zambia participated in Taksvärkki’s development cooperation programme.
3 009
active youth participated in implementing the Taksvärkki’s development cooperation programme.
6 251
adult duty-bearers participated in promoting and supporting the rights of youth.